Raiders’ influx of veteran players having an audible effect

Coach Jon Gruden is working with 21 new Raiders that are experienced NFL players.

Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

New head coach Jon Gruden has said that one reason the Raiders added so many veteran players to their roster this offseason was to generate in-house competition.

On the field and in the meeting room, it has affected another aspect of the team: communication.

The Raiders brought in 21 veteran players this spring and re-signed four of their free agents. That included 10 players age 30 or older — a trend that led some to jokingly wonder whether Gruden was trying to “throw the game back to 1998” in more ways than one.

While younger players can act as information sponges, they often do so quietly. But the Raiders have stockpiled a number of players who are past that wide-eyed phase and the result, several returning players say, has been audible.

“You can really tell a difference right away,” tight end Jared Cook said, “because with vets, as you’re walking around the locker room, or even right after a play on the field, they ask questions.”

Among the Raiders’ additions, 15 have played at least five years in the NFL, a distinction that only nine of their returning players carry. That combination of knowledge and openness to dialogue, Cook said, has been particularly beneficial given that the entire roster is trying to learn a complicated system being installed by Gruden and his assistants.

“It’s a lot more conversation as to trying to figure out the puzzle,” Cook said.

As a tight end, Cook, who is entering his 10th season, said many of his conversations are with defensive teammates. He’ll ask why they lined up in a certain spot before a snap and how they attempted to re-route him coming off the line. The linebackers “are probably the most vocal,” Cook said, “because they’re trying to figure it out, too.”

In turn, defenders will question Cook on what he saw and what he was doing to set up the opposition on a pass route.

“We’re happy to exchange that information because we ask those questions right back,” Cook said. “A lot of times when you ask a younger player, they really can’t tell you — and especially tell you in depth — what they’re trying to do or the type of goal that they’re trying to accomplish. So that’s the biggest difference.”

Receiver Jordy Nelson, whom the Raiders acquired in March, played the past nine seasons as a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers with the Packers. At 33, he’s a new face in a receiver group that includes Amari Cooper (23), Seth Roberts (27) and fellow newcomers Martavis Bryant (26) and Ryan Switzer (23).

“He’s very outspoken in meetings, which is cool,” Carr said. “Coaches always say if you have a question, ask. You never know if it’s a real thing. You don’t want to speak up sometimes. But Jordy … he’ll just be like, ‘What if we did the route like this or like that?’”

Nelson was known for mentoring younger teammates in Green Bay, and Carr said he thinks that demeanor has made an impression on the Raiders’ young receivers.

“Now they feel, ‘Oh, Jordy said this, now I can ask a question,’” Carr said. “Nothing is just being left under the rug. Nothing is being thrown out the window and not thought about. Jordy is very detailed. He wants to do everything exactly how you want it done. I see why Aaron loved throwing him the ball. He knows if you’re comfortable, you’ll throw it to him. I think all the guys are taking note of that.”

Carr said the influx of experienced players has made an impact in a locker room that had some established leaders but sometimes was lacking in direction during a 6-10 finish last season.

“We have people at every position where it’s like, ‘This is the standard, this is how we do things,’” Carr said. “It’s not just on one or two guys to make sure it happens. Everyone is responsible for their position. Everyone is responsible for themselves.

“There’s a different feel, but it’s a good feel. We have a close-knit group of guys holding each other accountable, and I really think that stems from the veterans that showed up.”

Fullback Keith Smith, who spent the past four seasons with the Cowboys, said he is encouraged by the way players have been receptive to the newcomers.

“Having a strong, stable locker room is definitely critical,” Smith said. “This is a way of life. You have to do this every day. You’re around these guys more than your family sometimes.

“I think the guys that were here already embraced us new guys with open arms. I think that’s helping us, because they could’ve been like, ‘Y’all are the new guys and you’re not going to come in here and get all this playing time,’ and put up a barrier. I don’t think anybody has done that. We’re all in it together, and we’re working toward something special.”